Thursday February 25, 2010
Saskatchewan MPs Say Abortion is Harmful to Maternal and Child Health
By Patrick B. Craine
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, February 25, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Abortion is harmful to the health of mothers and children, write Conservative Members of Parliament Brad Trost (Saskatoon-Humboldt) and Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin) in an op-ed for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix Thursday.
“Increased access to abortion has not been shown to improve the health of women and children, and in fact, can be harmful,” they write.
The two MPs were responding to a Monday editorial in the same paper that advocated government funding for abortion and contraception in the Third World. The piece related that “aid groups have argued for years that real progress can’t be made until women are given the education, resources and support to decide for themselves when to get and stay pregnant.”
“While such claims are made by some aid groups such as International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Action Canada for Population and Development, who are pushing for an international ‘right to abortion,’” Trost and Vellacott write, “they provide no evidence to back them up.”
“They provide no evidence that liberalizing abortion laws will improve maternal health,” they continue. “In fact, evidence suggests the opposite.”
They cite data from countries, such as Ireland and Chile, that show a link between restrictive abortion laws and low maternal mortality, and compare that with data from other countries, such as Guyana, that have permissive laws but which are experiencing vastly higher maternal mortality. They also highlight Poland and El Salvador as examples of countries whose maternal mortality has plummeted after prohibiting abortion.
They then cite evidence documenting the “detrimental impact” of abortion on a woman’s psychological health, and the dangerous effects it can have on a woman’s future children.
They write that, according to experts from groups such as MaterCare International, “what’s required are: Better prenatal and neonatal care; skilled birth attendants at all deliveries; specialist care for life-threatening complications; clean water; better nutrition; affordable transportation; and improved literacy.”
The debate over abortion funding follows Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement on January 27th that Canada will use its presidency of this year’s G8 summit to promote the cause of maternal and child health care in the Third World.
While Harper had emphasized that his plan focused on solutions like those listed by Trost and Vellacott, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff fuelled a national controversy by demanding funding for abortion. The Conservative government has since stated that abortion is not part of their plan.
“We owe it to pregnant women to provide them with compassionate, caring support so that they do not feel trapped into resorting to abortion, regardless of its legal status,” write Trost and Vellacott. “We owe it to the most vulnerable citizens of the developing world — pregnant mothers and their babies — to provide the resources they need to survive pregnancy.”
“We are thankful that our prime minister has seen fit to bring Canada to their aid,” they conclude.
See Brad Trost and Maurice Vellacott’s article: Abortion ideology harmful to health of moms, children
See LifeSiteNews.com’s report:
Experts Disagree with Ignatieff: Abortion Doesn’t Reduce Maternal Mortality https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10021913.html
Contact Information:
The Hon. Brad Trost, MP (Saskatoon-Humboldt)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-8052
E-mail: [email protected]
The Hon. Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon-Wanuskewin)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-992-1899
Fax: 613-992-3085
E-Mail: [email protected]
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest)
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail: [email protected]
The Hon. Bev Oda, MP (Durham) and Minister of International Cooperation
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2792
Fax: (613) 992-2794
Email: [email protected]
The Hon. Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke-Lakeshore)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 995-9364
Fax: (613) 992-5880
E-mail: [email protected]
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Canadian PM Calls for G8 to Tackle Maternal Mortality – Abortion Push Feared
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10012712.html
Canadian Liberal Leader Ignatieff Slammed as “Extreme” and “Divisive” on Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020312.html
Toronto Archbishop Slams “Sad” and “Negative” Proposal by Liberal Leader Ignatieff
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020406.html